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County grants new approvals for Serenity Creek community

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by:
Pam Eubanks
Senior Editor

EAST COUNTY — Meritage Homes of Florida can begin work on its newest East County development, Serenity Creek.

The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners voted Feb. 7 to approve a re-zone and preliminary site plan for the 111-home community, which is slated for 64 acres, south of State Road 64 off Pope Road.

Greg Meath, development consultant for Meritage Homes, said the developer hopes to start work on the new community this summer.

“We will have models open in the fall — sometime in the fourth quarter of this year,” he said.

Homes within the private community — which likely will be gated — will range in size from 3,200 to 5,100 square feet.

Meritage has been working on plans for Serenity Creek for about four months, after purchasing the property and its development entitlements from Royal Green Estates.

“The location (was the main draw),” Meath said. “We thought very highly of that (area), and the existing entitlements were in place already.”

A preliminary site plan for Serenity Creek was originally approved Aug. 5, 2008. It included 85 lots for single-family detached residents and included a “neo-traditional” design. Meritage’s new design adds 26 lots by reducing lot size and increasing density from gross density of 1.33 to 1.71 dwelling units per acre. The new site plan also eliminates a clubhouse and pool from its list of recreational amenities, among other modifications.

Meath said no specific amenities are planned for the community, except for a passage park.

Arbor Reserve construction gets green light from commissionersCommissioners granted final plat approvals for Arbor Reserve, a 95-home community being developed at the northeast corner of Lockwood Ridge Road and 59th Avenue East, Bradenton.

“We’re really excited about the development progress of the community,” said Cammie Longenecker, vice president of sales and marketing for Taylor Morrison. “It’s coming along nicely. Taylor Morrison and Ryland are starting our models. We’re expecting to have final completion of them in the March/April timeframe.”

Both builders will be pre-selling homes before the spring opening, Longenecker said.

Taylor Morrison will be constructing larger estate-style homes, ranging in size from 2,400 to more than 3,000 square feet. Ryland Homes will be building smaller cottage-style homes, likely starting around 1,500 square feet, Longenecker said.

The builders broke ground on Arbor Reserve in October.

The 38-acre Arbor Reserve site formerly was home to Turner Tree & Landscaping; the property is located immediately north of the Silver Lakes community and across the street from Barrington Ridge.

Community amenities will include a resort-style pool, cabana, gazebo, playground and sport court.